1. Bernatone Alphornbau: If you want to skip the touristy sites and experience the traditional side of Switzerland, then you must visit the workshop run by the master alphorn maker, Heinz Tschiemer. Here, you can watch the alphorns being made, learn about their traditional significance and get yourself one! There also are several other bigger and smaller musical instruments to choose from. It is a unique experience, the likes of which are hard to find outside Switzerland.
Location: Im Holz, 3804 Habkern, Switzerland
Timings: Open 24 hours
2. Harder Kulm: Harder Kulm is the nearest mountain to the city of Interlaken and takes only a 10-minute ride on a 100-year-old funicular railway to reach. Standing at a height of 1322 metres above sea level, the mountain affords breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks of Eiger, Jungfrau and Monch. If you are not afraid of heights, you can enjoy even better views of this masterpiece of nature from the overhanging Two-Lakes-Bridge or Zwei-Seen-Steg.
Location: Harder Kulm, 3800 Unterseen, Switzerland
Entrance Fee: Free
Timings: The funicular railway runs every day from 9:10 AM to 9:40 PM
Check Out & Book Now: Harder Kulm Tickets
3. St Beatus Caves: A half an hour-long bus or train ride from Interlaken West would bring you to these millennia-old caves that are seeped into Interlaken's culture and lore. It is believed that in the 6th century, a beastly dragon hid in these very caves to escape the wrath of St. Beatus, a monk, and was eventually beaten on this very site.
Today, you can enjoy walks through these almost kilometre-long caves which are lit to showcase the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites. The walkways are lit by LED lights to offer better views of the natural formations and make for an interesting tour. The place also has a museum where you can learn about the history, geology and tourism-related information of these caves.
Location: 3800 Beatenberg, Switzerland
Entrance Fee:
- Adult: CHF 18 or Rs. 1,322
- Child: CHF 10 or Rs. 735
Timings: 9:45 AM to 5:00 PM
4. Heimwehfluh: After getting off at the Interlaken West station, you can literally walk to the cable car station which will take you up to Heimwehfluh. Heimwehfluh is a hill sitting at an altitude of 680 metres above sea level, from the top of which you can enjoy the magnificent scenery. There is a restaurant at the top from where you get panoramic views of the surrounding peaks while sipping on your coffee at the restaurant.
It is especially fun for the kids as they can play and run around at the adventure playground situated close to the cafe. The highlight, however, is the sledging run which takes people of all ages sledging down the slopes of the hill, passing through forests! You can choose the speed at which you want to sledge down the incline making it a fun activity for all!
Location: Heimwehfluh Str. 60, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland
Entrance Fee: Free
Timings: Model Railway, Sledge Run: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
5. Tourism Museum: Tourists have been enjoying the scenic beauty of Interlaken and the entire region known as the Bernese Oberland for more than the last five hundred years. This is the first museum of its kind in Interlaken that talks about the history of tourism in the region. The exhibit stretches to all three floors of the museum and covers everything from railways, local culture, mountaineering and local industry! Some of the older displays include curios like everyday objects from a luxury hotel in the 1900s.
Location: Obere G. 28, 3800 Unterseen, Switzerland
Entrance Fee:
- Adult: CHF - 5 or Rs 366
- Child: CHF - 2 or Rs 147
Timings: Wednesday to Sunday- 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM
6. Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe: Jungfrau is the highest peak in the entire continent and a day trip from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch will afford you the best of Alpine scenery. You can reach Grindelwald from Interlaken by train and then take the historic cogwheel train to the Jungfraujoch pass.
Here, you will arrive at the Jungfrau railway station, the highest railway station in the entire Europe. At the top, you will be able to view the stunning vistas of the snow-capped peaks of Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau. Here, you can immerse in the magnificence of Europe's longest glacier and walk through it to the ice palace. You can also visit the Sphinx Observatory, which is one of the highest in Europe!
Location: Jungfraujoch3823 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Entrance Fee: CHF 20 or Rs. 1,468
Timings: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM - 6:00 PM
Checkout & Book: Zurich to Jungfraujoch Day Trip
7. Höhematte Park: This is a 14-acre park situated right in the heart of the town and is a popular leisure spot for both locals and tourists. The land which once belonged to the Augustinian convent was acquired by a group of hoteliers back in 1860 to retain the scenic beauty around their hotels.
The 150-year-old Victoria Jungfrau Hotel still sits at the site and is a major tourist landmark. The beautifully manicured park has blooms of various colours with the backdrop of the Jungfrau peak, making it a scenic destination. When here, you can choose to grab a coffee from the Kursaal and watch the paragliders descend in the park!
Location: 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland
Entrance Fee: Free
Timings: Open 24 hours
8. Schynige Platte: If you are in the mood to get out of town and stretch some muscles, then there is no better place than Schynige Platte. A five-minute walk from the Central railway station at Interlaken will take you to the rack railroad. This particular railroad has been in operation since 1893, taking visitors through some impressive scenery.
The ride lasts for about an hour and passes through the alps, offering you changing vistas of the peaks of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau and also the Lake Thun. Once at the top, you can go on a 45-minute long easy walking trail which will take you through picturesque Alpine gardens with over 600 types of flowers and high-altitude plants!
Location: 3812 Gündlischwand, Switzerland
Entrance Fee: Rs 4,834 for a guided tour
Timings:
- Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 7:00 PM
- Saturday & Sunday: 9:00 AM - 1:15 PM & 2:15 PM to 7:00 PM